March 28, 2024

5 things to know from the Jasper County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday

1. A professional services agreement to assess current space needs with Shive-Hattery was approved for the Jasper County Annex Building. The analysis will determine functions, by department and service, housed within the building, calculate the approximate area used by each department and service and review the layout of each department and service to determine utilization of space.

With the data, Shive-Hattery will produce a spreadsheet of areas within each department service with assigned area utilized and determine the approximate size of a building needed to house current departments and services. The firm will also meet with available heads of departments or services to discuss if any current space need is not being fulfilled in the annex building.

The services cost $6,200 and a final presentation will be given to the board with the findings from the assessment.

2. The board approved federal aid agreements for bridge projects on Highway F17 over the North Skunk River and Highway F48 over Squaw Creek. The estimated cost for the projects is $1.5 million and $840,000 respectively.

Two roads were also approved for Level C designation in the county. Portions of East 64th Street South and North 89th Avenue West will move from Level B to Level C and be gated off from public use. Vandalism including tearing up crops, the creation of methamphetmine labs and under age alcohol use were stated as a few reasons for the redesignation.

3. A contract with Skiff Medical Center to provide meals for elderly nutrition on Saturdays and Sundays and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays was approved. Kelli Van Manen with elderly nutrition said the contract had no changes and the prices remained the same as the previous year.

4. The board gave approval to move forward with Smith’s Bell and Clock, Inc. clock restoration of the Jasper County Courthouse clock tower. A final contract was not signed by the board pending further investigations of the clock tower and recommendations by the historical society.

5. Amanda Van Ekeren was approved for hire as a part-time dispatcher in the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Van Ekeren’s beginning pay rate is $18.10 per hour with a start date of Sept. 7.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com